In the years before he left Earth, Niklaus Aquila realized that he required greater assistance in managing the project. He was introduced to Sir Roland Windhaven at the Imperial Palace, on Earth, some two years before the colonial launch, and at once found in him everything he'd required. Windhaven was a noted scholar in Ancient Earth writings, and helped conduct astounding archaeological digs across Europe in his time. Though an old man when he met Aquila, the two became enamored of each other's company, and Windhaven gladly signed on to help organize the project.
It was mere months before the creation of the Aquilan Duchy that Sir Roland Windhaven succumbed to a brain tumor. Though his son, a passionate woodcarver, took the reins when the House was officially created with the Duchy of Aquila, he credited his late father with founding the House, for having the vision to bring his family and responsibilities to Aquila in the first place.
In charge of a base industry, House Windhaven, though sharing in the profits of Aquilanium, was at the first not one of the wealthier Houses. With the Crash, however, and the Ascension of Divis Mal, timber rapidly became the single most vital building resource on the planet, and the Lord of the time, Lord Jakob, envisioned the family fortunes swelling impossibly in the near future.
So it was that once Duke Mikhael III was executed by Lord Ffrench, Lord Jakob Windhaven took it upon himself to trace a very uncertain connection to the late Duke, and stake his own claim on the throne, quite certain his increased fortunes could pay to sustain his abrupt rise in power, once achieved. He managed to recruit the Mountjoys and the Tremontaines to his cause, and marched toward the Nest in full force.
Yet the Hobertys and Mauns, who were championing the Anderon claimant, met them outside the City gates, in spring of 2752, in what has since been called the Swarm at the Gates, whereat Lord Maun himself ran Lord Jakob through with a borrowed sword. Jakob's brother, Claudius, assumed Lordship, and re-asserted his claim, with the remnants of the Mountjoy and Tremontaine forces, most of whom had escaped the Swarm.
In 2757, the Rostays joined the fray, on the side of the Windhavens, and their victory looked all but certain. Windhaven ordered Lord Rostay in a brilliant rout of the Hobertys, sending them scurrying back to the Keep, well outside the City. In a series of three sieges, two Lords of Rostay were killed, and the Hobertys remained yet strong when the third Lord of Rostay finally retreated, and withdrew his support.
For the next eleven years, Lord Claudius Windhaven battered the City of Aquila in siege, yet it held, and the Maun forces continued to harass his flanks. In 2759, Claudius Windhaven succumbed to malaria, and his nephew, Lord Ulick Windhaven, called a retreat, bringing his forces back to Glass House, where he would gather his strength, planning his next move.
He struck out for the Maun estates, and succeeded in razing much of the territory, before the Maun armies finally pulled away from the City in defense, with their Hoberty allies. He eluded capture, however, and went into seclusion again, this time with Lord Mountjoy, in that Lord's territory. When he emerged again, it was with renewed strength to lay siege again to the City of Aquila, which was quickly broken, and he was again sent into hiding.
Finally, most of Windhaven's allies began to desert him, many of them fleeing to join the rising Vladmir Bahlmis, under the banner of the Panther. When Claudius, now an old man, emerged one last time from his manor, in late winter of 2793, he was forced to camp halfway to the City, and before he reached it, in the year 2794, the new Lord Rostay fell upon him, and routed what was left of his forces. Claudius called an early retreat, and later died from the infection of his wounds. His son, Norman Windhaven, took the reins of the House, and swore fealty to Lord Bahlmis before that Lord's last march to the City.
Windhaven was not penalized for its conduct in the Interregnum, but instead allowed to keep its titles and lands, and since that time has ruthlessly supported the status quo.
Except that is not quite entirely true. During the Carlysle Dynasty, the Lords of Windhaven were often among the most vocal and influential of the dissidents. The Carlysles were prevented from quashing them because of their not inconsiderable wealth, and because their forces were largely occupied as they murdered each other.
When the Bahlmis coup came, House Windhaven became divided. Lord Demetreus Windhaven, an associate and sometime-friend of Drostin Anderon, supported Duke Atropos, but with slightly less than half his House's troops as his uncle, Lord Desmond, had begun rallying the House earlier, and fled to support the Bahlmises. When Lord Desmond committed suicide, at the first hint the Bahlmis strength was flagging, much of his remaining forces returned to Lord Windhaven's control.